Read from Rachael Clemens, a Sea Shepherd On-shore Volunteer in Queensland, who wants her Member of Parliament, Border Defence Minister Peter Dutton, and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, to use their political powers to defend the whales.
PRIME MINISTER: YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO END WHALING IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN
I grew up on the east coast of Australia and every year my parents would take me whale watching.
I have been incredibly blessed to be part of a generation that has seen the increase of the Humpback’s population numbers over the past decade, due to the end of commercial whaling, and will continue to fight for future generations to be able to witness the same.
After viewing the Australian Customs footage, I was shocked at the straight-out barbaric nature of seeing the explosive-tipped harpoon piercing the whale. I’ve known for a long-time now how inhumane and brutal harpoons can be, but I was not prepared for what that footage revealed. Horror isn’t a strong enough word to describe it.
More than anything, I was deeply disappointed in my government for knowing that this was happening in our protected waters and did nothing to directly intervene for almost a decade whilst this incredibly cruel poaching of whales continued.
I have been involved with Sea Shepherd Australia as a volunteer for around 5 years. I am the National Music Representative and love working with the strong, outspoken voices of different generations fighting for our oceans.
Along the east coast, there are now hundreds of eco-tourism businesses that thrive off the thousands of whales that cruise past our beaches.
Australia has some of the most unique marine ecosystems that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Why would you allow anyone to illegally enter Australia’s precious Maritime Zones, particularly the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, to risk that?
I would really like Prime Minister Turnbull, and my Member of Parliament, our Border Protection Minister, Peter Dutton, to discuss this important issue with Japan and to send an Australian Customs vessel to put a stop to this cruelty now!
These are our waters and those are our whales.
Rachael Clemens
Queensland
Sea Shepherd On-shore Volunteer